Machine for cutting ties in blind webs



May 13, 1941-1. I sc 2,242,091

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TIES IN BLIND WEBS Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 13, 1941. E. SCHILKE 2,242,091

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TIES IN BLIND WEBS Filed April 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 @TW M May 13, 1941. scH 2,242,091

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TIES IN BLIND WEBS Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet s 07 as 3/ Fb.- 7 7 0/ 1 A0) 70 77 l (2.. m;

9: M j i 7 74 7X 73 77 13, 1941, E. SCHILKE 2,242,091

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TIES IN BLIND WEBS Filed'April 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 4 May 13, 1941. sc K 2,242,091

MACHINE FOR CUTTING TIES IN BLIND WEBS Filed April 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 llllllllllllll V'I'I'HIIHH Patented May 13, 1941 UNHTE ECE MACHDTE FOR CUTTING TIE S IN BLIND \VEBS 18 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for cutting ties between webs employed to unite the slats or shutters of Venetian blinds, and an object of my invention, among others, is the construction of a machine by means of which said ties may be cut in a rapid and emcient manner.

One construction of a machine embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved tie cutting machine.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the upper part of the machine.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the shears retracted and open.

Figure 4 is an end view on enlarged scale of the upper part of the machine looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a similar view on a plane denoted by the broken line 6-45 of Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a View on a plane denoted by the broken line 1-4 of Fig. 1. The driving mechanism is omitted in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive.

Figure 8 is a view in lengthwise section on a plane denoted by the broken line 88 of Fig. 1.

Figure 9 is a view in lengthwise section showing the web feeding mechanism.

Figure 10 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the broken line Ill-Ill of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is an isometric View of one of the web sliding members and its mounting, showing the parts in relative positions for assembly.

Figure 12 is a similar view of one of the pairs of shears.

Figure 13 is a view on enlarged scale illustrating a pair of shears and the operating means therefor.

Figure 14 is a view in side elevation of the same, with the shanks of each of the pairs of the shears cut off on a plane passing through the axis thereof.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a web of the kind which is operated on by the machine.

Figure 16 is an edge view of the same with the webs partially separated at one end.

Figure 17 is a similar view but with the webs fully separated.

Means commonly employed at the present time for uniting the slats or shutters of Venetian blinds at their opposite ends each consists of two pieces of woven webbing or webs connected at intervals by straps arranged in staggered relation at opposite edges of the webs as shown in Figs. 15 to 17. These straps 6 each consists of loose warp threads ununited by weft or filling threads but which are woven into the webs 5 at their opposite ends. Each group of Warp threads to comprise a strap is woven alternately into the upper and lower webs, a short piece constituting a tie i being of a length to permit separation of the webs sufficiently for separate weaving thereof. The ties at opposite edges of the Webs are located about opposite the lengthwise centers of the straps at opposite edges of the webs, as shown in Fig. 15, each tie crossing from one web to another opposite the lengthwise center of a strap passing in the opposite direction between the webs. After the webs have been woven it is necessary to cut the ties so that the webs may be separated, as shown in Fig. 17, for operation of the blind slats, the adjacent straps lengthwise of the webs being located at opposite edges thereof. This cutting has commonly been done by the use of shears operated by hand. By the operation of the machine illustrated and described herein this manual operation is avoided and a much more rapid and efficient method is employed.

In the drawings herein the numeral 8 denotes posts located at the four corners of the frame for its support, these posts, as shown, being composed of angle iron common to machine construction. Suitable tie and brace members may be employed as desired for imparting rigidity, these not being fully shown in the drawings herein. Angle pieces comprising a part of the frame extend lengthwise thereof and are secured at their opposite ends to the corner posts 8 at the tops thereof. The horizontal parts of these angle pieces comprise a table 9 and the Vertical parts constitute aprons Ill. The horizontal parts are spaced at their adjacent edges forming an opening extending lengthwise of the frame from end to end. Strips ll extend completely across the table at opposite ends thereof, the parts thus far described being secured together in any suitable manner, as by welding, bolts, or other fastenings.

A hanger 93 extends downwardly underneath the frame from its upper part and provides a bearing for a driving shaft M to which a driving gear it is secured, this gear being driven in any suitable manner as by an electric motor connected therewith. A crank i6 is secured to the driving shaft and a driving rod I1 is pivotally attached to the crank by a connection adjustable lengthwise along the crank for the purpose of adjusting the amount of throw of a main actuating lever it which is pivotally attached to the rod H at that end opposite the crank 16. The lever it? is pivotally secured at its lower end to a lever supporting slide l9 mounted on a flanged rail 20 comprising a part of the machine frame and extending lengthwise thereof at its lower part. A hand lever 2| is also pivotally attached to a rail 22 comprising a part of the machine chine centrally along'the opening in the table. 9

and is supported at its opposite ends upon the strips ll one of which passes through a groove extending crOSsWise of the bed piece as shown at the left of Fig. 2. A supporting plate 23 is secured to the under side of the bed piece 23 and extends.

therealong from end to end of the machine and is provided with T-shaped slots (see-Figs. 4, 5 and 6) for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A length of woven web 5 comprising two connected pieces is extended along the bed piece 23 and is moved therealong from the left to the right, as shown in Fig. 1. An actuating slide is mounted for reciprocating movement on the supporting plate 2Q, this slide comprising sides 26 located on opposite sides of the bed piece 23 with their lower edges in sliding engagement with said supporting plate, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The bed piece 23 forms a guide for the actuating slide. The sides 26 are rigidly connected by tie bars 21 raised above the bed piece and slide plates 28 are secured to and project downwardly from the slide on opposite sides thereof, these plates being in sliding contact with opposite edges of the supporting plates 24, as shown in Fig. 7. The lever is has a fork 29 at its upper end, each branch of the fork having a notch in its upper end to receive a pin 33 projecting from the side of one of the plates 28, as shown in Fig. 8. This comprises means for imparting sliding movement to the slide for a purpose now to be described.

A web feeding lever 31 having a web feeding finger 32 is pivotally mounted on a projecting lip from a lug 33 extending from one side of the actuating slide, as shown in Fig. 8. The lever is spring biased in one direction to project the finger 33 into the space 34 between the two webs to engage the straps 6 therein. A feed:

ing lever actuating cam 35 is pivotally mounted on a block 35 on the table 9, being spring pressed against a shoulder on the block so that it will yield in one direction to permit a roller on the end of the lever to pass as the lever moves in one direction, as to the right in Figure 1, but to swing said lever on its pivot as the slide moves in the opposite direction to the left as shown in Fig. 1..

Pairs of shears are mounted on the table on opposite sides of the web, there being a pair of shears on each side of the web but out of line one with the other., As these shears are of like construction a description of one pair will suffice for both. A shear supporting slide 3! is slidably mounted in a groove in the top of the table 9 (see Fig. 2) and a pivot post 38 projects upwardly from the slide. A pair of shear members Mb-40 are pivotally mounted on said pivot post and are held thereon by means of a screw in the top of the post as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. A thrust plate M at the end of a thrust pin 42 extending into a hole in the pivot post receives the thrust of adjusting screws 43 in ears 44 extending from the edges of the shear members as shown in Fig. 12. These adjusting screws are to adjust the degree of opening between the shear blades. Adjusting screws 45 are also screw threadedly engaged with lugs 46 on theishear members to regulate the time of Y slide 3? to effect said movement of the shear blades. A spring 49 forces the shear bearing end 89 extending inwardly from an apron ID of the lever away from the web. A roller 50 on the end of the lever opposite the shears is engaged by a shear operating cam 5i projecting laterally from the upper edge of the slide as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. This cam also operates a somewhat shorter shear closing lever 52 mounted similarly to the lever 41' on the table 9, This lever 52 has a roller at one end to engage with the cam 51 and at its opposite end it supports a shear closing cam 53 of angular shape comprising a horizontal part secured to the lever and an upstanding part to engage with the adjusting screws &5 hereinbefore referred to and as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The lever 52 is spring pressed against a stop 54 secured to the top of the table 9, and an adjusting screw.55 in a stud 56 regulates limit of movement of the lever 41. The shear members are provided with removable blades 51 and a spring 53 seated at its opposite end in recesses in ears 59 at the outer ends of the shear members forces the blades apart, the shear closing cam 53 forcing the blades together.

In order to separate the webs 5 for entry of the shear blades between them to cut the ties l spacing fingers (it are provided, a pair of these fingers being shown on one side of the shear blades and a single finger on the opposite side of said blades. These fingers each project from a spacing finger support 6!- (see Fig. 11) pivotally mounted on a pin 62 screw threadedly secured to a base block E33 having a foot 64 with a rib 65 engaged within a groove in one of the T-slots in the under side of the supporting'plate 24, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and 11, and secured in place by a T-headed bolt 61 fitting said groove. A stop 58 on the base plate 63 limits swinging movement of the support Bl to free the fingers as from engagement with the straps 6 as the web is fed toward the right as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by action of the feeding finger 32.

In order to hold the loading portions of the webs which are forward of the shears during the intervals between the feeding movements of the webs and thereby retain them in position for entry of the web feeding fingers in position to perform its proper function a holder in the form of a presser 69 is provided. This is in the form of a bar extending laterally from a presser lever "iii pivotally supported by a bearing block 7| se- I cured to the under side of the table 9 as shown in Fig. 10. The lever has a roller 72 engageable with a holder operating cam 13 on a holder operating bar M slidably mounted at one end in a bracket 715 depending from the under side of the table and supported at its opposite end by a spring it suspended from a hook Tl. Spaced apart pins 18 projecting from the side of the bar M are engaged between branches of the fork 29 of the lever I3 near each end of its throw, and a holder operating spring 19 secured at its opposite ends to a pin projecting from the lever and a pin as shown in Fig. 10 returns the holder to its raised position after it has been depressed by the cam '53. During operation the lever l8 moving to the left from the position shown in Fig. 9 releases the pin 78 at the right on the bar It and engaging a branch 29 of the fork with a pin it at the opposite end of the bar moves the bar to the left. The cam i3 engaging the roller 12 on the lever ill causes the bar to move downwardly as the holder is held against movement by pressing upon the web 55. As the roller passes the point of the cam the holder is suddenly snapped from engagement with the web by the action of the spring 56, and the web is thereby released and free to be moved by the feeding finger as the lever l8 swings to the right carrying the actuating slide with it. In this movement a branch of the lever i8 engages a pin "i8 at the right hand end of the bar is, moving it to the right, passing the cam '53 imderneath the roller l2 and pressing the cam down against the tension of the spring 15 which, as soon as the point of the cam passes the roller, causes the holder to be pressed down into engagement with the web as shown in Fig. 9 for engagement of the feeding finger between the webs and with the shears between the webs in position to cut the ties.

To operate the machine a double web united by the straps and ties is placed upon the bed piece 23 and is moved thereon toward the right as seen in Fig. 1 until the finger 32 engages with the strap 6 next to the right of that with which it is shown engaged in 3. In this position the shears will be retracted and open. The uncut ties at this end of the web occasioned by this position may be subsequently severed by hand. When thus positioned the web extends through a notch in the under side of a weight M the bottom of the note resting upon the web upon the bed piece 23 and pressing a lip 82 projecting from the edge of the weight against the web, thereby placing a tension upon the web. This weight acts principally as a positioning member to properly position the webs for entry of the shears with the blades of each pair of shears on opposite sides of the ties to be cut. Springs 83 exert a backward pull on the webs to draw them backwardly against the fingers 65 which act not only to separate the webs but also as stops to engage the ties as the webs are moved backwardly by the springs 83 acting through the weight 8i and thereby position the webs with the ties opposite the openings between the shears.

The machine now being started the lever 68 will move the actuating slide to the left from the position shown in Fig. 3, engaging the roller on the lever 35 with the feed lever actuating cam 3'5 which acts to withdraw the web feeding finger 82 from within the web. During this movement the shear operating cams Fall on both sides of the web engage first the rollers on the shear supporting levers 57, thereby moving the shear blades into the space between the webs with the blades 5'? open and a tie 1 between them. The cams 51 next immediately engage the rollers on the shear closing levers 52 thereby operating the shear closing cams 53 to close the shear blades and out a tie. During this operation the spacing fingers 8E3 keep the two members of the web separated so that the shear blades may be readily inserted between the webs, said fingers being swung to one side when contacted by the base straps as hereinbefore described. In practice I have found that good results are gained by feeding the webs forward slightly beyond the point at which they should be left for the cutting operations, and

when the feed finger 32 is released the springs 83, acting through the weight ill, draw the Webs backwardly into engagement with the fingers 60 which serve as stops to place the webs in proper position for action of the shears to cut the ties.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

1. A woven double Web tie cutting machine including a web support, means engageable with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, movably mounted shear supports mounted at opposite edges of said web, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on each of said shear supports, a slide overlying said web and having cams on opposite sides thereof, means engageable with said cams for moving said shear supports to insert blades on said shear members between said webs, and means for closing said blades to sever a connection between said webs.

2. A woven double web tie cutting machine including a web support, a slide overlying a web on said support and having cams on opposite sides thereof, means mounted on said slide and engageable with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, movably mounted shear supports mounted at opposite edges of said web, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on each oi said shear supports, a pivotally mounted lever engaged with each of said shear supports and engageable with one of said cams for operating said supports to insert blades on said shear members between said webs, and means for closing said blades to sever a connection between said webs.

3. A woven double web tie cutting machine including a web support, a slide overlying a web on said support and having cams on opposite sides thereof, means mounted on said slide and engageabie with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, movably mounted shear supports located at opposite edges of said web, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on each of said shear supports, means engageable with said cams and operatively connected with each of said shear blade supports for moving said supports to insert blades on said shear members between said webs, and a pivotally mounted lever engageable with one of said cams and having a cam engageable with both of said shear members of each pair for closing said blades to sever a connection between said webs.

4. A. woven double web tie cutting machine including a web support, means engageable with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, a movably mounted shear support, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on said shear support, a. pivotally mounted. inserting lever operatively connected with said shear support and operating it to insert blades on said shear members betweensaid webs, a pivotally mounted cutting lever having a cam engageable with the edges of said shear members on opposite sides of the pivot thereof for closing said blades to sever a connection between said webs, a reciprocating slide, and a cam on said slide engageable first with said inserting lever to operate it and then with said cutting lever to operate it.

bers between said webs, a pivotally mounted cutting lever having a cam simultaneously connectable with the edges of said shear members on opposite sides of the pivot thereof for closing said blades to sever a connection between said webs, and a cam carried by said actuating slide and engageabie first with said inserting lever to operate it and then with said cutting lever to operate it.

6. Amachine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein there are included fingers for spacing said webs for the insertion of cutting blades on said shear members between said webs, said fingers being movably mounted to move to one side when engaged by a member connecting said webs, and means for moving said fingers into the space between the Webs.

7. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the web lengthwise along the support includes a pivotally mounted lever, a web feeding finger carried by said lever to be engaged with cross members connecting said webs, and means for operating said lever to project its end between the webs to engage said cross members and feed the web and to withdraw said end from between the webs.

8. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the web lengthwise along the web support includes an actuating slide movable along said web support, means for operating the slide, a lever pivotally mounted on said slide, a web feeding finger carried by said lever to engage with cross members connecting said webs, and means for operating said lever.

9. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the web lengthwise along the web support includes an actuating slide movable lengthwise along the web support, means for operating the slide, a lever pivotally mounted on said slide, a web feeding finger carried by said lever to be engaged with cross members connecting said webs, and means engageable by said lever for operating it but yieldable to permit said lever to pass when moving in one direction.

10. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein there is included a presser for periodically pressing the web against its support to hold it in position for entry of the feeding finger and shear blades on the shear members in proper position for cutting the ties.

11. A machine of the character set out in claim 5 wherein the structure comprises a table for the web support, a lever pivotally mounted underneath the table and having a forked end with the branches pivotally attached to the opposite sides of the actuating slide, and means for operating said lever.

12. A machine of the character set out in claim 5 wherein the structure comprises a table for the web support, a lever pivotally mounted underneath said table and having a forked end with notches in the ends of the branches of the fork to removably engage pins extending from opposite sides of the actuating slide to permit the latter to be freely raised from its support, and means for operating said lever.

13. A machine of the character set out in claim 5 wherein the structure comprises a table for the web support, a lever pivotally mounted underneath the table and having a forked end with the branches of the fork pivotally attached to opposite sides of. the slide, a presser foot for periodically pressing the web against the support to hold it in position for entry of the cutting blades on the shear members in proper position for cutting the ties, and a connection between one of the forks of said lever and: said presser foot for operating the latter.

14. A machine of. the character set out in claim 1 wherein there is included a pivot post secured to and rising from the shear support, a thrust plate projecting from said post and an adjusting screw carried by each of the shear members, said screws thrusting against opposite sides of said thrust plate to adjust the width of the gap between the shear blades.

15. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein there is included a cam for forcing the shear blades together, and an adjusting screw connected between the cam and each of the shear members for adjusting the relative time of operation of each of the shear members by said cam.

16. A machine of the character set out in claim 1 wherein there is included a cam for operating. both shear members and adjusting screws in each shearmember for contact by said cam to regulate the relative time of operation of each shear member by said cam.

17. A woven double web tie cutting machine including a web support, means engageable with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, movably mounted shear supports, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on each of said shear supports, a finger pivotally mounted at the edge of and: extending into the space between the webs for engagement of the ties connecting the webs, said finger yielding to permit forward movement of the ties past the finger, means for limiting backward movement of the finger, a tensioning member biased backwardly to effect a backward pull on said webs to engage the ties with said finger to position the ties for operation of the shears thereon, means for moving said shear supports to insert blades on the shear members between the webs, and means for closing the blades to sever said ties.

18. A woven double web tie cutting machine including a websupport, means engageable with the web for moving it lengthwise along the support, movably mounted shear supports at opposite edges of the web, a pair of shear members pivotally mounted on each of said supports, fingers pivotally mounted on each side of each shear support and extending into the space between the webs to separate the webs and for engagement of the ties connecting the webs, means to efiect yielding movement of the fingers to permit forward movement of the ties past the fingers, means for limiting backward movement of the fingers, a tensioning member resting upon the webs in proximity to said fingers, means for biasing the tensioning member backwardly to exert backward pull on said webs to engage the ties with said fingers to position the ties for operation of the shears thereon, means for moving said shear supports to insert blades of the shear members 

